Making Applesauce

Back in October we made applesauce. We made 34 quarts of applesauce to be precise.

Here's what 3 (1/2 bushel) bags of apples looks like. 

So we start by chopping them up (seeds and skins included) and throwing them in a huge pot!

Somewhere along the line an apple thief showed up.

Then we put C and M to work with this handy gadget, my Victorio. Can I just tell you how much I love this handy dandy thing? I have different screens for it - apple, salsa, pumpkin, and berry. Did I just use the word handy in two sentences? And now three sentences?

Then the jars started to get filled up...

And......the finished product....or products.

Of course, I had to save out enough apples to make an big apple crisp for all the hard workers. It disappeared before I could get a picture of it, so you'll just have to use your imaginations.

From Drop Box

Favorite Books #s 2-4

Howdy, I'm back with some more of my favorite books. Picture Books #2 A Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban        There are a number of books about Frances, a badger, and they are all great. #3 My Truck is Stuck by Kevin Lewis        This is a good selection, especially for boys. #4 Here We Go, Harry by Kim Lewis         Harry, the elephant, and his friends Lulu the lamb and Teddy the bear share a fun day playing outside.      The illustrations are adorable. Chapter Books #2 Happy Little Family by Rebecca Caudill      This is the story of a family of 5 children living in Kentucky in the 1900s. It is the first book in a series of 4 books. #3 Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross by Augusta Stevenson      For this selection I actually chose one of many books from the series, Childhood of Famous Americans. These are great biographies for younger to middle elementary children. They are huge favorite in my house, and I recommend finding the old paperback versions from your library, because some of the newer reprinted books have been changed. Plus, I prefer the older books type-set. #4 The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall       Once again, this is the first in a series of books. The third book is supposedly coming out the summer of 2011, and my daughter can't wait. Until next time, happy reading.

My 50 Favorite Children's Books

Here's the plan. From now until Christmas Eve, I'd like to share 50 of my favorite picture and chapter books with you. For those of you with children to shop for, I hope this helps you. I love books! We have bookshelves in almost every room of our house and still I don't have enough space for all my books, so some are in boxes.  I especially love old books. There is something comforting about the feel of a book in your hands. Oh, did I mention I love books?

My guess is I won't be faithful enough to actually post every day, so I'll end up doubling or tripling up sometimes. So now without further ado, here are today's books. The order in which they appear does not have any bearing other than being the one I'm thinking of at the time.

Picture Book #1: The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash

     This is a current favorite of my 2.5 yr old. If you're not familiar with this poem, I'm sure you can search for it. It's quite funny.

Chapter Book #1: Dealing With Dragons by Patricia Wrede

     This is one of my daughter's favorite books. It's the first in a series of 4 books called "The Enchanted Forest Chronicles".  It is very humorous, and even adults would enjoy reading this book.

There you have it! Happy reading!

*I do not have any affiliation with Amazon, nor do I get anything out of linking the books to their site. It's just an easy place for you to look, should you be interested.

From Drop Box

My Daybook - Sept 27th

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window... ~there are rain clouds and a slight breeze

I am thinking... ~how this has shaped up to be a typical Monday

I am thankful for... ~my friends who can relate to my "typical Monday"

I am wearing... ~jean capris, a striped green short sleeve shirt, and no show socks

In the learning room... ~H is collecting her things to go up to her room

I am remembering... ~warm sunny Summer days with not a thing to do

I am going... ~start Bible study on Wednesday (YAY!)

I am currently reading... ~No Place for Fear by Al and Joanna Lacy

I am hoping... ~that we have a better school week this week


I am hearing... ~ The wild rustling the leaves on the trees and someone running water upstairs

On my mind... ~what I'll be making for dinners this week

Noticing that... ~dominoes are spread all over the kitchen floor

Pondering these words... Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6: 9-10

From the kitchen... ~zucchini bread that I baked yesterday

Around the house... ~mostly silence as the kids are resting and reading

One of my favorite things ~reading to my children (right now we're reading D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths)

From my camera...~ Hannah's sentence diagram from last week

From Drop Box

Bad days and hard times

Monday was a bad day. It was more than a bad day. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Children fough over toys. The youngest threw toys at C. H threw fits about getting her school work done. M fussed and complained about spelling one word on his spelling test.  At one point I felt that everything was completely out of hand.  The disrespect, willfull disobedience, fighting, whining, and crying was going to drive me insane. I wondered, "Why am I bothering? Wouldn't it be so much easier to just put them on the school bus? Why should I do this? It's too hard!!" Then last night I was reading and was reminded about Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Does this mean, then, that life should be easy? As a Christian and as a homeschool mom, I know full well life isn't easy. The enemy is out there, waiting to pull us down. We need to clothe ourselves in the armor of God daily and stand against the enemy.  We will struggle. We will fall. But, we need to stand up and try again.  Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV) Wow! Isn't that encouraging! It's one of those times I'm extra thankful to be a child of God.

National Lazy Mom's Day

Did you know that today is National Lazy Mom's Day. That is one holiday that I just can't celebrate. Today I did NOT celebrate National Lazy Mom's Day by schooling 3 children, cleaning my kitchen floor, and a host of other day to day tasks.  Also, I scrubbing the walls going up the stairs, which, by the way, look ever so much better now. What is so hard about holding the railing instead of trailing your little fingers up and down the wall? I took a picture of it in progress and I'd post it, but it's so shameful. Suffice to say, my stairway looks much better and the scrub brush and I might have another few dates with some dirty walls. So much for National Lazy Mom's Day. Cheers!

Wordless Wednesday - Goldfinches on my cone flowers

Yes, this is Thursday, and yes I am adding words....I guess I just break all the rules at once. But actually I missed posting this yesterday because of a sick kiddo.